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*** Official 2013 St. Louis Rams Thread *** (2 Viewers)

jurb26 said:
bulger2holt said:
What teams would be interested in trading up to #2? This is assmuing the Texans take Teddy
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Atl and TB would seem like the most likely teams to me.
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For Clowney? What about Minny, Jax and Cleveland for a QB?

I would be asking for this:

Swap 1sts

2014 2nd

2015 1st

That's one less 1st than RG3 brought in

 
JT tweeted this morning DC Tim Walton will not be retained.

No replacement announced yet (Schwartz no longer avail, original choice in 2012 Gregg Williams is).

* This move wouldn't have been a surprise right after the season, but the timing NOW, after many possible candidates have been picked over, is a bit odd.

** edit/add - PFT on Walton firing, and reporting Mort's confirmation that Williams is expected to be hired.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/29/report-tim-walton-out-as-rams-defensive-coordinator/

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/01/29/rams-make-quick-hire-bring-gregg-williams-back/

 
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From ESPN beat reporter Nick Wagoner...

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1794097-the-insiders-guide-to-a-gregg-williams-defense#articles/1794097-the-insiders-guide-to-a-gregg-williams-defense

Rams' return to Williams would make senseJanuary, 29, 20143:15
PM ET
By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com

ST. LOUIS -- As the St. Louis Rams announced Wednesday that they fired defensive coordinator Tim Walton, the easy reaction wasn't necessarily to wonder why he was fired but why the Rams waited so long to do it.

It took all of about 10 minutes to understand. The Rams already had their replacement lined up, and technically, the replacement is the replacement's replacement. Got that?

ESPN NFL Insider Chris Mortensen reported that the Rams will hire Gregg Williams to be their new (old?) defensive coordinator only moments after the team sent out a release announcing it was parting ways with Walton.

What a long, strange trip it's been for Williams and the Rams.

A brief history: Soon after the team named Jeff Fisher as head coach in January 2012, Fisher hired Williams as his defensive coordinator. Fisher and Williams were best friends and had worked together in Tennessee, where the Titans were regularly among the league's best defenses.

Not long after that, the Rams and Williams were forced to part ways because the NFL suspended Williams for his role in the bounty scandal in New Orleans. The Rams allowed Williams' son, Blake, to serve as a de facto coordinator in addition to his role coaching the team's linebackers.

The Rams' defense was middle of the pack in 2012, but the younger Williams struggled to mesh with the coaching staff and was let go after the season. St. Louis hired Walton from Detroit, where he worked with Fisher disciple Jim Schwartz, because of his familiarity with Fisher's defense.

Walton's defense struggled mightily early in the season, especially against Atlanta, Dallas and San Francisco. Rumors persisted that Fisher took on a larger role in calling the defense around midseason, and the group finished in the middle of the pack once again.

But Walton's contributions were questionable as the secondary struggled with passive coverage schemes and the defense allowed a completion rate of 68.1 percent, tied for worst in the league.

Despite those struggles, Walton was in his first year as a coordinator and Fisher said he didn't anticipate making any changes to the coaching staff this offseason.

Perhaps Fisher didn't anticipate the Titans making wholesale changes to their coaching staff, where Williams served as a defensive consultant in 2013.

Which brings us to Wednesday and the report that Williams and Fisher are set to reunite. Given the way things ended between the two sides the first time around, it was fair to wonder if the bridge had been burned and reconciliation was even possible.

Fisher said in 2012 that he wouldn't rule out bringing Williams back at some point, but it seemed plenty had changed since. When the Rams and Titans played in November, Fisher didn't exactly offer up warm fuzzies when asked whether he talked to Williams much.

“I really never talked to him during the season anyway,” Fisher said then. “I'm sure I'll see him on Sunday.”

From Williams' side, one had to wonder whether his son's firing would create a wedge between the two sides.

Apparently, none of that was enough to damage the long and close friendship forged by Fisher and Williams.

From a pure football perspective, the move makes sense. Williams and Fisher built the attacking, aggressive defensive scheme favored by both coaches and will continue to deploy it in St. Louis.

Williams' involvement in the bounty scandal is sure to bring questions, but there's no denying his positive impact on Tennessee's defense in 2013. The Titans finished 14th in total yards allowed and 16th in scoring defense with Williams helping out after finishing 27th in total yards and last in scoring defense in 2012.

With Williams back on board, it's safe to expect the Rams to take on the personality that Fisher wanted to see from the get-go -- less of the soft zone, huge cushion coverage calls paired with relentless pressure from the front four and exotic blitz packages.

Those are all calling cards of a Williams defense and will almost certainly be staples of the Rams' scheme in St. Louis.

Given the state of the NFC West, where elite defenses are the rule, the Rams' middle-of-the-pack finish in the first two seasons under Fisher simply hasn't been good enough. While the unit didn't take any steps back in 2013, it also didn't make the leap forward to the top-10 group many hoped it would become.

To reach that level, Fisher appears poised to bring back the man he wanted all along.
 
It's about time. When Fisher signed on, I was lukewarm about it until I heard that Williams was part of a package deal. Now that he's back on board, things look like they're about to really take off.

Think about it: Over two seasons, the Rams have had a defensive coordinator for all of four games. And with that, they have made it to the middle of the pack defensively on mainly physical talent. Brockers, Jenkins, Johnson, Ogletree and Quinn... the Rams have accumulated some real defensive talent over the past three years. It's just never felt like they put those players in the best positions to succeed. Coverage nine yards off the ball consistently, letting guys catch passes underneath on dumpoff routes, which negates the team's greatest strength in its pass rush. It looks like we will finally get to see what this defense was intended to be.

EDIT: Now if we could just find someone to take Schotty off our hands...

 
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Junior McSpiffy said:
It's about time. When Fisher signed on, I was lukewarm about it until I heard that Williams was part of a package deal. Now that he's back on board, things look like they're about to really take off.

Think about it: Over two seasons, the Rams have had a defensive coordinator for all of four games. And with that, they have made it to the middle of the pack defensively on mainly physical talent. Brockers, Jenkins, Johnson, Ogletree and Quinn... the Rams have accumulated some real defensive talent over the past three years. It's just never felt like they put those players in the best positions to succeed. Coverage nine yards off the ball consistently, letting guys catch passes underneath on dumpoff routes, which negates the team's greatest strength in its pass rush. It looks like we will finally get to see what this defense was intended to be.

EDIT: Now if we could just find someone to take Schotty off our hands...
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Williams is by far the biggest offseason move in what has otherwise been a quiet one for the team. It is the culmination of the desire for Fisher to be reunited from TEN in the first place, but took two years to be realized.

If he can use the defensive pieces already in place and those added in Fisher and Snead's third free agency/draft cycle in his signature attacking and pressuring defense, IMO he will be like an extra first round pick. Hard to overemphasize the importance of this addition to the defense and team overall.

 
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Warner was on the radio still crying about "Spygate" costing the rams a title. I just looked at the box score and the Rams actually dominated that game. Gaining 200 more yards, but a couple of fumbles and an INT cost them the game.

 
Da Guru said:
Warner was on the radio still crying about "Spygate" costing the rams a title. I just looked at the box score and the Rams actually dominated that game. Gaining 200 more yards, but a couple of fumbles and an INT cost them the game.
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Kurt should really get over it. He won once, went three times (could EASILY be 3-0), won league MVP twice.A few things I would add. NE was more physical than STL (they may have been overconfident, I think they beat them by a healthy margin in the regular season?), to the point where at times I thought the WRs and Faulk coming out of the backfield were mugged, and possibly more PI and holding penalties could have been called. The defense didn't do it's job in the last drive (and we saw how close they cut it against TEN in '99). Maybe most fateful, Martz could be monstrously arrogant and stubborn, and was determined to keep passing the ball despite the obvious fact that NE was selling out to stop it. One of the best RBs in the history of the league was criminally underused in that game.

 
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Rotoworld:

The Los Angeles Times reports Rams owner Stan Kroenke recently purchased a 60-acre lot in Inglewood, Cal. that "could potentially be a used for an NFL stadium."
According to reporter Sam Farmer, Kroenke appears to have bought the land late last year. The terms of the Rams' St. Louis lease allow the team to move penalty-free beginning after the 2014 season. In and of itself, the purchase isn't a smoking gun that the Rams are L.A. bound, but it certainly ups the stakes in the team's St. Louis negotiations. Acquiring land is just one in a litany of hurdles any team would have to clear before packing up and heading to Hollywood. Local laws and regulations have made it nearly impossible for a viable stadium deal to emerge. That being said, owning both the team and the necessary land puts Kroenke way ahead of past failed suitors. It's not a good development for fans who want the team to stay in St. Louis.

Source: Los Angeles Times
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bulger2holt said:
Williams will have the very talented Rams D turn into a dominant D. He has plenty of toys to work with
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Williams was one of the worst DCs in football in New Orleans. I have no idea why you guys are excited.

 
Jeff Fisher OL draft history fun fact...

Somebody did this research on another board, and I didn't vet it, but sounded plausible, so for what it's worth.

Commonly known that he has never taken a first round OL. But less commonly known, he hasn't taken a guard (if the research is accurate) before the FIFTH round (unless you count 2013 fourth rounder Barrett Jones, but he may have been drafted as a center).

As usual, I'd add the stock qualifiers...

1) Easier to do that when you inherit serial All Pros Matthews, Sr. and Munchak.

2) Did Fisher have final decision in HOU/TEN, or Reese? If it wasn't Fisher, Soupy Sales could have been making the picks, and it would have had about as much relevance to Fisher's tendencies.

3) Some reports said Warford could have been in play with the 2013 1.30 if Ogletree was off the board, but others suggested he was ONE of the potential targets, and they may have attempted another trade down first?

 
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http://www.101sports.com/2014/01/30/bringing-back-williams-logical-rams-ascending-defense/

Bringing Back Williams Only Logical for Rams’ Ascending Defense
By Randy Karraker on January 30th, 2014 @ 7:56am

As Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn prepares to find a way to knock off the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., he no doubt has pulled down and dusted off an old tape to get an idea as to how to beat Peyton Manning. That tape is from Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, from when New Orleans found a way to hold Manning to one touchdown pass and hold the Colts to 17 points.

That blueprint, such as it is, was drawn up by then-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who called a blitz at precisely the right time in the fourth quarter to hurry Manning and set up a Tracy Porter pick-six that turned a 24-17 Saints lead into the 31-17 advantage by which they ultimately won. Now, Williams is reportedly returning to the Rams, a team he was set to join two years ago but forced to leave because of Bountygate, the scandal that rocked New Orleans when it came out that Saints players had been offered bonuses for knocking opponents out of games. Both Kurt Warner of Arizona and Brett Favre of Minnesota were physically racked in games against Williams’ defense in those 2009 playoffs, and the belief was that the Saints’ bounty program motivated his players.

Overshadowed by the scandal, and what should be encouraging for Rams fans, is that Williams is a terrific coach. In 12 years as a defensive coordinator, Williams has had five units that finished as top-eight in the league in scoring defense. When Williams joined the Titans last year, Saints defensive back Jabari Greer told Titans Insider that Williams “was the best defensive coach that I’ve played for professionally.” At that point, Greer had played for four defensive coordinators, but he said, “Gregg did a great job of creating a professional approach to football. He made us accountable to each other. He really created something that we still live off of today in our defensive room. We play with a passion and we play with an intensity that is going to be unmatched.”

Former Rams and Packers safety Matt Bowen, who now writes for the Chicago Tribune, played for Williams in Washington and said, “Williams is the best coach I ever played for in my years in the NFL, a true teacher who developed me as a player. I believed in him. I still do. That will never change.” Cortland Finnegan had heard those sorts of compliments when he signed with the Rams, and he told reporters soon after Williams’ suspension that “every player you talk to says what a great coach he is. I was so excited to have a chance to play for him. He has a great defense and players love playing in that defense.”

Well, now in St. Louis, they get the chance to. A coordinator who brings swagger and attitude – someone who will have his players ready to go from day one. Last season, the Rams’ defense allowed 17, 24, 31 and 35 points in their first four games. Safe to say that they’ll be ready to rock and roll for the opener now. As Bowen wrote, “Williams is an excellent motivator. You do what he wants: play tough, push the envelope and carry a swagger that every opponent sees on tape. When you lined up against us, you knew we were coming after you. It was our gig, our plan, our way to motivate, to extra-motivate.”

Williams isn’t the perfect coordinator. While his units have been in the top eight in takeaways three times in 12 years, they’ve been in the bottom ten in that department six times, or half of his years as a coordinator, including five of his last eight as a coordinator.

That being said, there probably isn’t a better scenario available for the Rams’ defense. Williams knows Jeff Fisher’s defensive desires intimately. He shares Fisher’s desire for an aggressive, take-no-prisoners approach. And he has the ability to coach technique, while at the same time motivating the troops to a fever pitch.

It was not a good day for former Ram DC Tim Walton. He should have been told of his fate earlier. Almost every coaching job in the NFL has been filled at this point, and Walton is left standing. The music has stopped, while everyone else has a chair. For the second year in a row, the Rams are the last team to hire their defensive coordinator, and Gregg Williams will be the third one in as many years for the franchise.

But Walton knew the dangers of the coaching business when he got into it. Coaches are hired to be fired. The Rams’ defense didn’t live up to its end of the bargain in 2013, and needed an added boost. An experienced, creative defensive coordinator can only benefit this group as they try to get to the next level. It may not of have been the best way to make a change, but this is one instance in which the ends justify the means. There aren’t a lot of guys around who have coordinated Super Bowl-champion defenses, and now the Rams have one of the men who has.

 
Not sure about Barr, but some background on Williams.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/bernie-miklasz/bernie-bytes-why-rams-rehired-williams/article_2bc0a3eb-78a2-5046-ac9f-6b4bb9a85d0f.html

Why Rams rehired Williams

Bernie Miklasz

"So why did head coach Jeff Fisher bring back Gregg Williams to run the Rams' defense? Now that we've gotten past the weirdness of it all, let's look at it from a pure football standpoint.

The first easy and obvious answer: Williams should make the Rams' defense better. Fisher wouldn't have made the move, otherwise.

The second answer, which we covered on the day Williams was rehired: they are football brothers. They share the same philosophy of defense. Fisher trusts Williams, and Williams knows what Fisher wants. It's a comfortable fit — providing that Fisher and Williams have truly worked out their personal differences.

The more specific football reason, at least from what I am thinking: Fisher wants more pressure on the quarterback. And he almost certainly wants more creativity in blitz packages.

If we really want to narrow it down... if Fisher sees it the way I think he does, the Rams need to bring more heat on third down.

I'm going to offer some numbers that illustrate what we're talking about here. I know the numbers bore some folks, but I prefer dishing out fact-based analysis points rather than assume things that may or may not be untrue.

* In 2012, Fisher's first season as Rams' boss, his defense blitzed on 71 third-down passing attempts. The game-day calls were made by Blake Williams, Gregg's son, who served as de facto defensive coordinator during Gregg's NFL suspension. Blake — disliked by fellow coaches — was fired after the season.

* Last season Fisher brought in Tim Walton as DC. This was a move up for Walton, who had been working as a position coach in Detroit. (Defensive backs.) For whatever reason — inexperience, passivity, etc. — the Rams were more conservative in attacking. They blitzed on only 46 third-down passing plays, and not very effectively at that.

* In 2013, opposing quarterbacks completed 29 of 46 against the Rams' third-down blitzes for 478 yards, five touchdowns and a passer rating of 125.1.

* In 2012, with young Williams dialing up the heat, quarterbacks completed less than 50 percent of their third-down throws when blitzed and had a passer rating of 85.5.

* Perhaps Walton blitzed less because the Rams were getting good results from a four-man pass rush led by the berserk Robert Quinn. There may be some truth to that; despite fewer blitzes the Rams finished with 53 sacks, one more than in 2012. But I don't think that explains everything. The Rams defense fell off in its third-down performance in 2013, compared to 2012. (The third-down passer rating against them in 2012 was 88; last year that jumped to 101.)

So what does this have to do with Williams' reentry?

Until the Bountygate scandal, Gregg Williams built his name and reputation on being among the finest and most innovative blitz designers in the NFL. He's had strong success as a third-down obstructionist.

Perfect? Hardly. Not counting his time as head coach in Buffalo or his 2013 job as a consultant in Tennessee, Williams has logged 12 seasons as an NFL defensive coordinator. He's had a few leaky defenses along the way. And a couple of terrible defenses. But all in all, this has been one of the most respected DC's out there.

And the Williams' speciality is third down.

Namely, third-down blitzes.

During Super Bowl Week, I put an hour or so aside to do some research with help from the data at STATS LLC. I wanted to see Williams' third-down blitzing record during his 12 years as a coordinator.

* In his final two seasons (1999 and 2000) as the DC for Fisher at Tennessee, Williams' unit ranked fifth and 14th, respectively, in the league for most third-down blitzes. But that doesn't tell the entire story; in those two seasons combined the Titans had 49 sacks on third-down blitzes, with nine interceptions. His 2000 defense belted quarterbacks to a 61.7 passer rating when the Titans blitzed on third down.

* Williams was Washington's DC from 2004 through 2007. The corresponding league rankings for most third-down blitz attempts: first, fifth, eighth, and 12th. In 2004 and 2005 combined, the Redskins had 48 sacks on third-down blitzes. They had another double-digit total (13) in 2007. They also intercepted 25 passes when blitzing on third down over the four seasons. And the passer rating against the Redskins on third-down blitzes was under 77 in three of the four seasons.

* Williams ran Jacksonville's defense in 2008. The Jags ranked 19th in the amount of third-down dogs, but got 12 sacks and five interceptions from them.

* In New Orleans from 2009 through 2011, Williams' dialed up the third-down blitzes even more. The Saints blitzed on third down more frequently than any team in 2009 and 2011 and were fourth in 2010. Over the three seasons the third-down blitzes helped rack up 63 sacks and 25 interceptions.

* The 2009 Saints won the Super Bowl, and this was Williams' masterpiece. When his defense blitzed on third down they messed up the quarterbacks for 18 sacks, 15 interceptions and a passer rating of 60.3.

Obviously, Jeff Fisher wants more disruption and damage from his defense in defending the passing game.

Last season the Rams blitzed — all downs — only 143 times, the 10th-lowest number in the NFL.

Now contrast that to what we saw from Williams and New Orleans over those three seasons: anaverage of 285 blitzes per year.

Imagine the pressure that the Rams can apply now that Williams is back to draw up all of those mad blitzes.

Not only will offensive lines have to handle Robert Quinn, Chris Long, and William Hayes — but the blockers will be under additional duress in dealing with all of the crazy stuff that Williams brings at them.

What if the Rams draft defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and put him in the mix? What could Williams do with four fresh defensive ends that can get after quarterbacks?

Williams' fondness for blitzing also could mean more pass-rush sorties for second-year outside linebacker Alec Ogletree, or could heighten the Rams' interest in drafting UCLA outside 'backerAnthony Barr. Last season Barr had 10 sacks, five forced fumbles and 20 tackles for losses — though some scouts believe he's a better fit for a 3-4 defense. (The Rams run a 4-3.)

But the fast (4.6 speed) and furious Barr can definitely bring the pressure from the outside. And it boggles the mind to think of a Rams defense that can attack the flanks with Quinn, Long, Ogletree and Barr. And all of that perimeter speed would work well in defending mobile quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick (49ers) and Russell Wilson (Seahawks.)

Thanks for reading..."

 
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STL has ties to the top two LT prospects.

Snead is an Auburn alum, and Fisher's son is there.

Fisher played with and coached Jake's father Bruce for many years.

 
So Tavon Austin owners, are you hoping the Rams pass on Sammy Watkins or do you think adding him could actually help the little mighty mouse?

 
Archer said:
So Tavon Austin owners, are you hoping the Rams pass on Sammy Watkins or do you think adding him could actually help the little mighty mouse?
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I don't think they grab him. The key to the offense there is not another young WR; it's the offensive line. They need to protect Bradford and give him time to throw. The seasoning these young WRs get with another full year or finishing a full year should help them tremendously.

 
saintfool said:
Archer said:
So Tavon Austin owners, are you hoping the Rams pass on Sammy Watkins or do you think adding him could actually help the little mighty mouse?
Click to expand...
I don't think they grab him. The key to the offense there is not another young WR; it's the offensive line. They need to protect Bradford and give him time to throw. The seasoning these young WRs get with another full year or finishing a full year should help them tremendously.
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I agree. Based on early draft scatter, I'm leaning towards the theory that the Rams will move down a few spots and pick up Greg Robinson. Basically, trading with whomever of Jac/Cle/Min/Oak blinks first and wants their guy at QB. I don't think it'll be a huge deal like RG3; something like swapping firsts and picking up a 2nd rounder might suffice.

All of the WRs have shown things in spurts. I think they give the kids and Bradford 2014 together and assess. It's a shame our running game didn't take off until Bradford was out.

 
lyon812 said:
saintfool said:
Archer said:
So Tavon Austin owners, are you hoping the Rams pass on Sammy Watkins or do you think adding him could actually help the little mighty mouse?
Click to expand...
I don't think they grab him. The key to the offense there is not another young WR; it's the offensive line. They need to protect Bradford and give him time to throw. The seasoning these young WRs get with another full year or finishing a full year should help them tremendously.
Click to expand...
I agree. Based on early draft scatter, I'm leaning towards the theory that the Rams will move down a few spots and pick up Greg Robinson. Basically, trading with whomever of Jac/Cle/Min/Oak blinks first and wants their guy at QB. I don't think it'll be a huge deal like RG3; something like swapping firsts and picking up a 2nd rounder might suffice.

All of the WRs have shown things in spurts. I think they give the kids and Bradford 2014 together and assess. It's a shame our running game didn't take off until Bradford was out.
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Agree.

WR is a moot point without better protection (see DAL and first SF game). Robinson's upside is as high as anybody in the draft, after Clowney. Matthew's could be a better pick, he is more developed technically in pass pro, great NFL genes. Robinson is the most dominant run blocker in the class, could be a pro bowl guard at first (Ogden started at guard), fill in at RT, provide injury insurance or a hedge against a slow return from Jake Long, and be the heir apparent there.

Long was also injured increasingly during his MIA tenure and is approaching 30. Saffold probably better than even odds not coming back. RT Barksdale only signed through this year. Wells has missed nearly half of the games since 2012, and with Dahl, is about 33, one or both could be cap casualties. Rotational LG Williams may not be back. Potential future starting center/guard Jones is a question mark, he redshirted last year.

Without time to throw against a divisional team like SEA, even Manning was humbled. Last year, when the OL took care of business in the run game, STL beat IND, CHI and NO, and nearly SEA. When they got stuffed, they lost. The passing attack was very effective when Stacy was inserted into the starting lineup and they set up the pass with the run.

Austin was misused early, but flashed his potential when used better (crossing routes use his speed to stress and spread out the defense, RB out of the backfield). Bailey didn't get a chance until the last few games, but is the best route runner and has the best hands on the team, he should be starting. With more time to throw, maybe Givens can regain his rookie form, and Quick can show more. If just one of the latter two improves, that should be enough with Austin and Bailey, since they also have TE Cook. He could also improve with more chemistry, timing and rapport.

They still have enough holes they may not get everything done this year. But a blue chip, elite LT/guard increases the chance the QB is around, they can add a WR next year if needed (or even WR like Evans at 1.13?).

As far as the draft positioning mechanics, not sure they drop to MIN (1.8), that could get hairy if they want to be sure of getting Robinson or Matthews. ATL (1.6) might be as far as they could drop with those targets in mind (including Watkins if relevant). Interestingly, the GMs in both STL and JAX are ex-personnel men groomed in ATL.

As far as what they could fetch, there is heist level (RG3 - who I still like a lot, but it was a historically large price to pay), face value by the chart and lowball (OAK only getting a second to drop from 1.3 to 1.12). Even if they don't get a heist level return, the dynamics of this draft should be conducive to doing better than a lowball return. If HOU takes a QB like Bridgewater, that could leave teams vying for Clowney and Manziel. And JAX could take either, which would make 1.2 a logical destination to jump them. I would be surprised if they don't get at least an extra first (a 2015 first equals about a 2014 second in value), possibly more. To me, it wouldn't be worth the risk of losing out on their target dropping to 1.6 or 1.8 just for a second. In that case, I'd rather just make the pick.

If they opt for LT over Watkins, WR Evans is a possibility at 1.13, but leaning to best DB, possibly with a trade down. FS Clinton-Dix or Pryor, CB Dennard or Gilbert. There is a slight chance with a trade down from 1.2, they could trade up from 1.13 and add Watkins, too (OAK has a lot of holes, they took a second to move from 1.3 to 1.12 per above, would they be amenable to a move from 1.5 to 1.13 - but they may want Watkins of a LT themselves?). But that would preclude adding a DB there.

STL could be closer than many realize and surprise, if the OL stabilizes with an insertion of talent, youth and depth and they add 1-2 pieces on defense. Gregg Williams will make the defense better, too.

 
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Bob Magaw said:
lyon812 said:
saintfool said:
Archer said:
So Tavon Austin owners, are you hoping the Rams pass on Sammy Watkins or do you think adding him could actually help the little mighty mouse?
Click to expand...
I don't think they grab him. The key to the offense there is not another young WR; it's the offensive line. They need to protect Bradford and give him time to throw. The seasoning these young WRs get with another full year or finishing a full year should help them tremendously.
Click to expand...
I agree. Based on early draft scatter, I'm leaning towards the theory that the Rams will move down a few spots and pick up Greg Robinson. Basically, trading with whomever of Jac/Cle/Min/Oak blinks first and wants their guy at QB. I don't think it'll be a huge deal like RG3; something like swapping firsts and picking up a 2nd rounder might suffice.

All of the WRs have shown things in spurts. I think they give the kids and Bradford 2014 together and assess. It's a shame our running game didn't take off until Bradford was out.
Click to expand...
Agree.

WR is a moot point without better protection (see DAL and first SF game). Robinson's upside is as high as anybody in the draft, after Clowney. Matthew's could be a better pick, he is more developed technically in pass pro, great NFL genes. Robinson is the most dominant run blocker in the class, could be a pro bowl guard at first (Ogden started at guard), fill in at RT, provide injury insurance or a hedge against a slow return from Jake Long, and be the heir apparent there.

Long was also injured increasingly during his MIA tenure and is approaching 30. Saffold probably better than even odds not coming back. RT Barksdale only signed through this year. Wells has missed nearly half of the games since 2012, and with Dahl, is about 33, one or both could be cap casualties. Rotational LG Williams may not be back. Potential future starting center/guard Jones is a question mark, he redshirted last year.

Without time to throw against a divisional team like SEA, even Manning was humbled. Last year, when the OL took care of business in the run game, STL beat IND, CHI and NO, and nearly SEA. When they got stuffed, they lost. The passing attack was very effective when Stacy was inserted into the starting lineup and they set up the pass with the run.

Austin was misused early, but flashed his potential when used better (crossing routes use his speed to stress and spread out the defense, RB out of the backfield). Bailey didn't get a chance until the last few games, but is the best route runner and has the best hands on the team, he should be starting. With more time to throw, maybe Givens can regain his rookie form, and Quick can show more. If just one of the latter two improves, that should be enough with Austin and Bailey, since they also have TE Cook. He could also improve with more chemistry, timing and rapport.

They still have enough holes they may not get everything done this year. But a blue chip, elite LT/guard increases the chance the QB is around, they can add a WR next year if needed (or even WR like Evans at 1.13?).

As far as the draft positioning mechanics, not sure they drop to MIN (1.8), that could get hairy if they want to be sure of getting Robinson or Matthews. ATL (1.6) might be as far as they could drop with those targets in mind (including Watkins if relevant). Interestingly, the GMs in both STL and JAX are ex-personnel men groomed in ATL.

As far as what they could fetch, there is heist level (RG3 - who I still like a lot, but it was a historically large price to pay), face value by the chart and lowball (OAK only getting a second to drop from 1.3 to 1.12). Even if they don't get a heist level return, the dynamics of this draft should be conducive to doing better than a lowball return. If HOU takes a QB like Bridgewater, that could leave teams vying for Clowney and Manziel. And JAX could take either, which would make 1.2 a logical destination to jump them. I would be surprised if they don't get at least an extra first (a 2015 first equals about a 2014 second in value), possibly more. To me, it wouldn't be worth the risk of losing out on their target dropping to 1.6 or 1.8 just for a second. In that case, I'd rather just make the pick.

If they opt for LT over Watkins, WR Evans is a possibility at 1.13, but leaning to best DB, possibly with a trade down. FS Clinton-Dix or Pryor, CB Dennard or Gilbert. There is a slight chance with a trade down from 1.2, they could trade up from 1.13 and add Watkins, too (OAK has a lot of holes, they took a second to move from 1.3 to 1.12 per above, would they be amenable to a move from 1.5 to 1.13 - but they may want Watkins of a LT themselves?). But that would preclude adding a DB there.
Click to expand...
[SIZE=10.5pt]I think we’d be ok if we traded down to 8. Presuming Houston takes a QB, that leaves Clowney/QB/QB for Jax/Cle/Oak. Jacksonville is really sort of win-win; if someone trades up to #2 and takes a QB, they take Clowney. If someone trades up and takes Clowney, they take one of the top 2 QBs, who might be #1 on their board anyway. It's Cleveland/Oakland/Atlanta/Minnesota that I think really have the motivation to trade with us, and very importantly, two of those teams (Cleveland/Tampa Bay) do not need tackles. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Jacksonville - [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]QB or Clowney[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Cleveland – [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]QB, maybe WR[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Oakland - [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]QB. Tackles are unproven, so there’s a danger here. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Atlanta – [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Could use an upgrade at RT, but greater needs on defense. DE (Clowney at 2 would be a coup) and FS stand out. Clinton-Dix or Pryor could go here. Or a LB. Ok. Definitely defense.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Tampa Bay - [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]WR. Tampa’s really the wild card here. I don’t think they have any motivation to trade up. They have too much talent on their team, especially on D. Jackson is aging and Williams seems untrustworthy. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Minnesota – [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]QB has to be high on their want list, but it’s hard to believe that they’d be content with the 4th or 5th off the board after reaching for Ponder and failing. They need a few things..LB, DL. Really, now that I think about it, I could see them trading down to accrue picks, much like the Rams have been doing to fill all the holes in their roster. So they probably wouldn’t trade up unless they really thought that QB2 was their guy. Which really makes this whole post pretty moot. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Anyway, I've been banging the drum for Clinton-Dix at #13, but I don’t know if he’ll make it that far. [/SIZE]

 
Good post.

IF STL traded to 1.8, how might that go down?

Not sure TB wouldn't want a LT, Penn is not young, expensive and seemed to not play as well last year? I've also heard some CLE fans say they could take Matthews and put him at RT, sliding the RT to guard. Kind of a high pick for a RT, that might not play LT for a long time. QB and WR would seem to be a stronger possibility.

Anyways, going by position, before STL would pick at 1.8, I could see three QBs (Bridgewater, Manziel and Bortles), one WR (Watkins), two LTs (Robinson and Matthews) and one DE (Clowney).

That would be seven players, which could leave us shut out of the top LT/WR sweepstakes (and I really prefer a LT now).

Now that doesn't account for two LBs (Mack and Barr), perhaps one or two go in the top seven? But no idea if two, one or neither LB is taken in the top seven picks, or if that would push one or two down among the LTs/WR trio?

IF they have a preference for one of those LTs/WR players, dropping as far as 1.8 could be a big risk.

* Agree OAK needs a QB, we will know by the draft if they opt for a vet stopgap like Vick. I think they might be more likely to trade down than up with so many holes, one of top three QBs may not make it to them, or not one they like? Definite risk to take a LT or WR.

I think ATL specifically mentioned wanting to get stronger in the trenches (smoke screen?), so if they don't get Clowney (they won't unless they trade up), a lot of mocks have linked them with the LTs. I don't think the safeties are worthy of a top 10 pick, not as good as Barron who went top 10, probably not as good as Vaccaro or Reid. They could be pushed up due to demand, but I think there is an excellent chance both are there at 1.13. STL might even get one with a trade down (one of the last remaining positions that needs to be nailed own on defense, so agree it is important, but later might still be avail and a better BPA/value intersection - and they have yet to use a first round pick in the original slot). But if they really prefer one of the other (or one of the CBs like Dennard or Gilbert grades higher), they may just use the 1.13 pick, breaking the trend of trading all their firsts since the RGIII 1.2.

Exactly, with MIN, if they trade up with us, it is for a QB, and if they stay there or trade down, than moot.

 
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Research on the Fisher doesn't take OL in the first round meme (from a message board several times removed so no link). Didn't personally vet everything, but at a cursory glance, looks historically accurate (done prior to the 2013 draft). Snead and Fisher mentioned in interviews on Friday or Saturday at the combine and chalked it up more to happenstance than anything else. Fisher said he would take any position but punter or kicker (probably not center, either, and FB would be a big surprise! :) ).

When should Fisher have used a first rounder on OL?

1995 - #3 overall selection. Took QB Steve McNair.

1996 - #14 overall selection. Took RB Eddie George.
Next lineman didn’t come off board until #21

1997 - #18 overall selection. Took DE Kenny Holmes.
Still had former 1st Rd LT Hopkins. Used 4th rounder on Runyan the previous draft.
Next interior lineman off the board went #30 overall (Ross Verba)

1998 - #16 overall selection. Took WR Kevin Dyson.
OTs set. Inherited former 1st Rd LG Matthews still playing at high level.
Next interior lineman didn’t come off board until #26 overall (Faneca)

1999 - #16 overall selection. Took DE Jevon Kearse.
Entire Oline Set with same OTs & LG and prior year draftee Olsen (who started 9 years for Fisher) at RG.
Had prior year drafted Kevin Long at C, but he was upgradable. And C Damien Woody selected immediately after Kearse. Pass rushers harder to find than centers.

2000 - #30 overall selection. Took LB Keith Bulluck.
UFA Fred Miller takes over for departed Jon Runyan. Titans going for it as rest of the Oline is still set.

2001 - Traded #29 overall selection to Rams for DE Kevin Carter. Still going for championship with same starting Oline. BTW, next Olineman selected after the Ryan Pickett selection didn’t come off the board until the middle of second round.

2002 - #15 overall selection. Took DT Albert Haynesworth.
Matthews out. Replaced by journeyman backup at center. Remaining Oline starters still there. Stud DT harder to find than C. Besides, the first C drafted in this class went #43 overall (Bentley) which was one selection prior to the Titans 2nd round choice.

2003 - #28 overall selection. Took CB Andre Woolfolk.
Journeyman C out. Replaced by prior year late round choice. All other starters remain.
Next C selected after Woolfolk was Al Johnson at #38 overall who busted.

2004- 27th overall pick, but Titans traded out of 1st round.
Only change on Oline was rookie OG Jacob Bell replacing starting LG.
Could have stayed put and landed #34 overall selection OG Chris Snee, but we don’t know what grade they had on him or if they thought they could have got him at their newly acquired #40 selection.

2005 - #5 overall selection. Took CB Pac Man Jones
Only change to Oline was addition of high 2nd round (#41 overall) then RT Michael Roos.
Followed that up with a gold strike 4th rounder and current RT David Stewart. Though Pac Man didn't pan out, by draftnik standards, there was no other Olineman was deemed worthy of #5 overall selection (Alex Barron's draft class).

2006 - #3 overall selection. Took QB Vince Young.
The only lineman in that draft class worthy of that high a selection went immediately after Young in LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson. But, remember the Titans desperately needed a QB AND were already set at OT with Roos and Stewart. Note: Guards stayed the same. Prior to the draft, the team brought in UFA Kevin Mawae for center who played 4 years for Fisher.

2007 - #19 overall selection. Took S Michael Griffin.
Same set OLine from previous season.

2008 - #24 overall selection. Took RB Chris Johnson.
OTs set. Both guards gone. Bell to Rams. Olson’s career over. However, the next interior lineman didn’t come off the board that draft until #39 overall (Chico Richal who busted).

2009 - # 30 overall selection. Took WR Kenny Britt. Oline set , though C Mawae near end. Next Center off the board after selection went almost 20 spots later at #49 overall (Unger).

2010 - #16 overall selection. Took DE Derrick Morgan.

Selected over #17 overall Mike Iupati and #18 overall Maurkice Pouncey. But again, pass rushers are harder to find than interior lineman. Couple that with the 2009 team finishing 28th in points allowed (offense #16 in points scored) and the team had just lost DE Kyle Vanden Bosch to free agency that offseason.

2012 - Rams trade down and select Michael Brockers whom was their highest rated player.
BTW, the next Olineman didn't come off the board until #23 overall (Rieff).

 
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Thanks for sharing the Wagoner chat. I like his Watkins/Lewan thoughts, especially after Lewan's good combine performance.

The worst part about this is that we have 73 long days until the draft.

 
IF they have a preference for one of those LTs/WR players, dropping as far as 1.8 could be a big risk.
Click to expand...
I don't have Lewan that far behind Robinson/Matthews so if they can pick up a bunch of picks and still get a good LT then it's a great move.

 
Lewan definitely made himself some money. Some observers think there is a disconnect between his acknowledged elite athleticism and some sloppy technique on film, and that he might be a better fit at RT (though that last may have been said about another Michigan OT, Jake Long). Plus there are some some off field concerns related to anger management issues (hi Richie Incognito!).

I think STL could safely drop to 1.6 and get one of Robinson, Matthews or Watkins (if that is what they want to do), not as sure about 1.8, though as noted, Mack and or Barr could also figure into the top 5-8 mix. Mack is an elite LB prospect, I just don't think the Rams will prioritize LB nearly as high as OL, for instance. If they do narrow it down to the above three, that is a tough decision, though if they grade them similarly, could increase the chance they drop further. After initially wanting Watkins (the consensus top WR in the class, one of if not the best since Green and Jones, a true WR1 which STL doesn't really have), I had shifted to Robinson even prior to the Combine, I think his ability to be a physical, nasty and violent tone setter and possible Pro Bowl caliber dominant run blocking presence at guard until he moves outside would be a great fit in the NFC West. But he is a projection in pass pro. Some may think Matthews doesn't have ideal size for the NFL at 6'5" 305 lbs and 34" arms. But who is the best LT in the game? Joe Thomas is 6'6" 312 lbs (also 34" arms?). Both these guys are like robots programmed to have pristine, immaculate, serial Pro Bowl technique. Matthews has NFL-ready pass pro skills a few years ago. On the bonus plan, maybe the best genes in the history of the game. Which is why I've come to the point where I appreciate Matthews virtually the same as Robinson.

Matthews has been characterized as having an incredibly high floor and maybe the safest pick in the draft. IMO, true. But it isn't like he couldn't get better (like Thomas did), so he could also have a very high ceiling. His father played nearly 20 seasons, had about 10 All Pro seasons, and tied Merlin Olsen for the most Pro Bowl seasons ever (14?). Most scouts think Robinson has the highest ceiling. Could he be another Orlando Pace. He might be the most dominant run blocker I've seen since Larry Allen in his prime. Due to the Auburn scheme, he is inexperienced and untested in pass pro. But most scouts are convinced with his feet and agility, it is just a matter of when, not if, he can be coached up on technique. Which sounds like a pretty high floor. He only started two years in college, and only played the position for four years (started football late, and played defense until his junior year in high school). With NFL conditioning and technique work, where will he be in a few years when he catches up with where Matthews is now in reps and experience? I think that is a question the Rams may ask a lot in the next few months.

Below is a Dan Pompei (former CHI beat reporter for the Sporting News?) article highlighting the upside and potential of Robinson. It is almost Paul Bunyan-like, like if you read it unsourced it would sound too fantastic to be real. Some excerpts below. The last point resonated for me. He dominated despite still being raw, kept improving at Auburn and may be nowhere close to maxed out on his natural talent and God-given ability. His ceiling is vaulted and cathedral-like.

"The official stopwatch said it took 4.92 seconds for Robinson to get to the finish line in the 40-yard dash Saturday. That a 332-pound man could move so fast was stunning -- except to anyone who knew his backstory.

When Robinson was a kid, he was more about speed than size. He fancied himself as a runner, especially before a growth spurt during his time in Houston. In high school, Robinson was the Louisiana state shot put champ twice. His best put was 59-11 ½ feet. But he once filled in for an injured runner on the 4 x 100 relay. His team came in third, and someone had to reach up to drape the medal around his huge neck.

He has been known to do a standing backflip. A video exists. The last time he tried it was his freshman year, when he weighed 315 pounds. He also can kip-up from a prone position. His offensive line coach at Auburn, J.B. Grimes, said he has seen Robinson reach down, pick up a football and fire it 70 yards in the air."

"Three veteran front office men said they could not remember an athlete as large as Robinson who moved so well. "His athleticism for a man his size has to be some of the best we've ever seen," one scouting director said."

"...every week, he got a little better -- in the class room, in the weight room and on the field."

Scouts began noticing Robinson in part because Auburn kept winning until they became the second ranked team in the country, and in part because Robinson became the most dominant run blocker in college football. Grimes kept track of how many times his blockers put defenders on the ground. In 14 games, he said Robinson had 130 "knockdowns."

Robinson, who didn't start playing football until his sophomore year of high school and didn't move to offensive line until the next year, is still developing as a pass protector. Grimes is convinced Robinson has shown only a sliver of what he will become. It is fitting that Robinson did not hit a peak during his college career, and he did not hit a peak at the combine either."

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/68258092/auburn-tackle-greg-robinson-was-solid-at-the-nfl-combine

Solid On The Line

By Dan Pompei

February 24, 2014

Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson granted Sports on Earth exclusive access to his NFL scouting combine experience.

INDIANAPOLIS -- The NFL scouting combine may be the most important test of a 21-year-old's life. Certainly, it is the most intimidating. Agents invest tens of thousands of dollars so their athletes can reach a peak physically and mentally.

Getting to that peak was a challenge for Greg Robinson. The week before the combine, the Auburn offensive tackle caught a head cold. It settled in his nose and throat, and it hung on. He took a decongestant the whole week and quietly went about his business. Every night in Indianapolis, before bed he went through a light workout to try to "sweat it out." No one ever asked if he needed a Kleenex.

Discomfort is relative. Going with the flow can become a survival method. When Robinson was 11, Hurricane Katrina forced his family to evacuate their home in Houma, La. When they arrived in Houston, mom announced they were going to stay there awhile. Robinson didn't go home for two years. "When we got back, some of our things had been destroyed," he said. "But we packed just about everything we had. I didn't have much."

His first night in Indy, staying at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Robinson slept on a double bed in a room with Cal tight end Richard Rodgers. The next day, he was diagnosed with pinkeye. He was given eye drops and a new room with no roommate and a king size bed. He would not be spending much time in that bed though.

On Wednesday, Robinson was up before the sun rose for medical exams. There was orientation, a blood test ("They took about a gallon of blood, filled up six tubes," he said), a kidney test, heart test and more. Many different doctors from different teams wanted to get their own hands on Robinson, and they did. Much pulling, bending and twisting ensued. They wanted to know about past injuries. Robinson, who is as transparent as he is big, volunteered to doctors that he hurt his ankle last February when he fell off a golf cart and the cart rolled on his leg. "It was something I wanted them to know about so they could see it didn't affect anything," he said. "I said, 'Check it out.'"

They wanted to know if he ever had surgery. He told them he did, on his right lateral meniscus. They ordered an MRI of both knees, and another on his spine. Putting the massive Robinson in a closed MRI tube was a little like fitting a watermelon into a mini-fridge. They told him to make his frame as narrow as possible in order to slide him in. Once he was crammed in, he listened to relaxing music and dozed off. The MRI on his spine took 45 minutes. The left knee MRI took 65 minutes. The right knee MRI took 70 minutes. All told, the MRI process took more than four hours.

That meant no time for dinner. It also meant he missed his first two scheduled interviews with teams. But there still was time for others. He didn't finish talking until 11 p.m. After he had a light workout and a sandwich -- finally, a sandwich -- he went to bed at 1 a.m.

His wakeup call -- good morning, time for a drug test--came three hours later, at 4 a.m. Next was the weigh-in. He watched other players, wearing essentially nothing but underwear, parade across a long stage, beauty queen style, in front of thousands of NFL eyes. Hey look, there's Bill Belichick. "They told us we should go to the bathroom because guys have had accidents on stage," Robinson said. "A few guys got nervous and came running back, saying, 'Man, I got to go pee.' But I said, 'Come on, it's not that big a deal.'" Robinson measured 6-foot-5. He weighed 332, down about five pounds from what he had weighed before he got sick. His arms measured 35 inches. His hands were 10 inches. The buzz had begun.

More medical evaluations, including a vision test and a functional movement screening test, followed. By the time he finished with team interviews and a light workout and his head hit the pillow, it was 1 a.m. again.

Four and a half hours later, he'd be hustling. First thing on Friday was the Wonderlic intelligence test. Then there was a meeting with the NFL Players Association. Next came five psychological tests. "Mind blowing," he said. Bench pressing 225 pounds 32 times with 35 inch arms also could be defined as mind blowing, and that's what Robinson did in the afternoon. With strength coach John Lott and others barking at him, Robinson beat his previous best by three.

Through it all, Robinson never got flustered. He didn't give in to fatigue or stress. "I just thought about the positive side, that I had this opportunity," he said. "I found myself questioning, should I keep going through, but I rested up and kept going. I only had one shot, so I didn't want to pass up anything."

* * *

On Friday night, it was back to the team interview area. He had 10 formal interviews Friday, and 15 over the course of the combine. Additionally, he had eight informal interviews. Some teams, like the Bucs, talked to him twice.

A number of front office men quizzed him about his family history. Had he ever been in trouble? Others asked about his football experiences. A few inquired about his life plans. Some put him on the grease board and tried to test his knowledge.

The Rams did not treat him gently. They showed him video of some of his worst plays of the season against LSU. Veteran offensive line coach Paul Boudreau wanted to know what the hell he was thinking. "Before they could finish, I explained," Robinson said. "It was early in the year. I manned up. I didn't make any excuses."

The Browns took a different tact. Robinson sat in a chair at the front of the room, facing three rows of team personnel, including head coach Mike Pettine. On a board were three triangles. In one triangle was the word "game." In another was the word "facility." In the third was the phrase "away from football." They asked Robinson to tell them the percentage of how important each was to him. He said the game was 25 percent, the facility was worth 50 percent, and away from football was worth 25 percent.

Robinson explained his logic to the Browns by saying the other aspects of his life -- including where he trains and what he does with his free time--affect the game.

Robinson, probably better than many of us, knows that football isn't everything. The reason Robinson was in Indianapolis last week instead of in school is his family needs money. His father, Greg Blackledge, passed away last year. Robinson carries a reminder of him on his right shoulder -- a tattoo of his face. Blackledge was a strong influence on his children, and he also sustained them financially through his pension, social security and disability checks after he was injured while working as a welder.

During the past year, Robinson's mother Rhonda called her son every so often to ask for help paying the bills. When she can find work, she is a nursing assistant. But she didn't even have enough money to travel to Pasadena, Calif., to see her son play in the national championship game.

Robinson has borrowed from teammates. When he gets that NFL money, he said, he's going to take care of them. He's going to help mom, and fix up her house. It would be a blessing, he said, to pay for his two younger siblings' college educations.

He probably will help his four older siblings too. One of them, Jamaha Robinson, is in prison on a 15-year sentence but is expected to be released soon. Another, Joshua Robinson, spent some time in prison too, but he's been out for four years. Both were incarcerated for selling drugs. "That's the norm where I come from," Robinson said.

In one of the psychological tests administered at the combine, Robinson was asked to complete patterns. If the pattern had been his life story, the logical completion might have been for Robinson to follow his older brothers' paths.Robinson, though, wanted nothing to do with the thug life. "I saw my mom crying about it night after night," he said of his brothers' problems. "It hurt me because I didn't understand. I didn't want my mom to go through that again.When I got older and was exposed to it more and I understood it more, I found I wasn't interested in it."

* * *

The official stopwatch said it took 4.92 seconds for Robinson to get to the finish line in the 40-yard dash Saturday. That a 332-pound man could move so fast was stunning -- except to anyone who knew his backstory.

When Robinson was a kid, he was more about speed than size. He fancied himself as a runner, especially before a growth spurt during his time in Houston.In high school, Robinson was the Louisiana state shot put champ twice. His best put was 59-11 ½ feet. But he once filled in for an injured runner on the 4 x 100 relay. His team came in third, and someone had to reach up to drape the medal around his huge neck.

He has been known to do a standing backflip. A video exists. The last time he tried it was his freshman year, when he weighed 315 pounds. He also can kip-up from a prone position. His offensive line coach at Auburn, J.B. Grimes, said he has seen Robinson reach down, pick up a football and fire it 70 yards in the air.

When Robinson was running the 40-yard dash at Lucas Oil Field Saturday, he wore an olive and orange fitted sleeveless shirt and matching compression leggings that made him seem bigger than he is, or bigger than anyone could be. And he ran without making a sound, according to NFL Network analyst Shaun O'Hara, who was on the field. That 40-yard dash was just another shot put, backflip or kip-up to Robinson. His 10-yard split of 1.68 was even more impressive and more significant given the position he plays. His broad jump of 113 inches would have been remarkable even for a flying squirrel.

Three veteran front office men said they could not remember an athlete as large as Robinson who moved so well. "His athleticism for a man his size has to be some of the best we've ever seen," one scouting director said. "He really stood out."

Robinson also vertical jumped 28 ½ inches and ran the three cone in 7.80. He was satisfied with neither, and said he had performed both significantly better in the past."My muscles started getting tight," he said. "I didn't have much burst left. I wished I could have finished better."

During a drill in which linemen were asked to pull, Robinson got his feet tangled and fell. He sprung up and proceeded. Overall, though, he was impressive in positional drills. His smooth athleticism and graceful but powerful movements separated him from the group.

Like most of the combine participants, Robinson had been training for this week for nearly two months, working out twice daily and eating clean. On the advice of his agents Eric Metz and Ethan Lock, he was working at EXOS in Phoenix. Among those on his training team were Nick Winkleman for speed, Denis Logan for strength, Scott Peters for MMA training, former NFL offensive line coaches Bob Wylie and Howard Mudd and Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl left tackle Tyron Smith. Even Smith, who is listed as 6-foot-5, 318, looked small next to Robinson. But Smith helped Robinson by giving him solid advice for the mirror drill. "He told me to make sure my feet contact the ground constantly," Robinson said. "I did fairly well."

* * *

Heading into the 2013 season at Auburn, Robinson could have chosen to go through the motions. The Tigers were coming off a winless season in the SEC, and the coaching staff that recruited him was gone, replaced by coaches who had no loyalty to him or understanding of him.

Robinson, meanwhile, hardly was a player NFL scouts were projecting as one of the top picks in the 2014 draft. But when new offensive line coach Grimes sat down with him last spring, Robinson listened with an open mind. "He did not know me from anybody," Grimes said. "I was just a short, bald-headed guy from Arkansas State. But the thing I'll always appreciate about him is [that] he bought what we were selling. And every week, he got a little better -- in the class room, in the weight room and on the field."

Scouts began noticing Robinson in part because Auburn kept winning until they became the second ranked team in the country, and in part because Robinson became the most dominant run blocker in college football. Grimes kept track of how many times his blockers put defenders on the ground. In 14 games, he said Robinson had 130 "knockdowns."

Robinson, who didn't start playing football until his sophomore year of high school and didn't move to offensive line until the next year, is still developing as a pass protector. Grimes is convinced Robinson has shown only a sliver of what he will become. It is fitting that Robinson did not hit a peak during his college career, and he did not hit a peak at the combine either.

Beyond the blocks, what impressed Grimes about Robinson during the season was his understanding of how to get along and how to handle himself in new territory. That carried over during combine week.

When Robinson showed up in Indianapolis on Tuesday and was assigned No. 38 in Group 2, he kept to himself. He didn't want to speak much to the other tackles, whom he viewed as "competition." But by the on-field testing Saturday, Robinson was encouraging the other tackles, wishing them well and congratulating them. "At first I thought everybody would be selfish and focus on themselves," he said. "But we did our best to give each other adrenalin, and I felt that was part of the reason our group did well. I feel a lot of those guys have bright futures, so I was happy to pick them up."

So Robinson boarded his flight from Indianapolis late Saturday a richer man than when he arrived.He found strength he might not have known was in him. He made new friends.He had new souvenirs, lots of new souvenirs. There were backpacks, duffel bags, baseball caps, knit caps, T-shirts and sweatshirts from the Dolphins, Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, Raiders, Titans, Falcons, Bengals, Browns, Bills, Rams, Steelers and many more. He could pay for a lot of mom's bills just by selling his swag. He won't though. "I might give some away, but I might save this stuff as something to remember this by," he said.

With or without his NFL gear, Robinson is likely to remember this week for a long time. He will think of it as the week he had to fight through a head cold, pinkeye, sleep deprivation, missed meals, uncomfortable medical tests and muscle cramps.And he just might think of it as the week he became the No. 1 offensive tackle in the NFL draft.

 
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